Chapter V · Data Protection Board of India
Section 25: Members and officers to be public servants
Section 25 treats the Board's Chairperson, Members, officers and employees as public servants under the Penal Code when acting under the Act.
- Chapter
- Chapter V · Data Protection Board of India
- Status
- In force
- In force since
- 13 November 2025
- Applies to
- Data Protection Board
- Official citation
- DPDP Act, 2023, s.25
- Reading time
- 2 min
- Updated
- August 2026
At a glance
Section 25 deems the Chairperson, Members, officers and employees of the Board to be public servants within the meaning of Section 21 of the Indian Penal Code when acting or purporting to act under the DPDP Act. This brings them within public-servant accountability and protection provisions. This section is in force since 13 November 2025.
Key takeaways
- Board members and staff are public servants under Section 21 of the Penal Code when acting under the Act [25].
- This attaches public-servant duties and protections to their official acts.
Who should read this
Read this only for completeness; it defines the legal status of Board officials and has no direct company obligation.
In plain language
Section 25 gives the Board's people public-servant status for their official work, which carries both accountability, offence provisions apply to them, and legal protection for acts done in good faith.
The text of the law
Section 25: Members and officers to be public servants
25 The Chairperson, Members, officers and employees of the Board are deemed to be public servants within the meaning of Section 21 of the Indian Penal Code when acting or purporting to act under the Act.
Wording summarised from the enacted Act. Always confirm against the official Gazette text for authoritative language.
What this means for you
- No company action; it defines the legal status of the officials handling your matters, relevant if you ever allege misconduct or rely on their official acts.
Frequently asked questions
Are Board members public servants?
Why does public-servant status matter?
Sources
- Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY)
- DPDP Rules, 2025Notified 13–14 November 2025
This is an educational explanation, not legal advice. dpdpactindia.in is an independent resource and is not affiliated with the Government of India.